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ByKim Campbell Media correspondentDecember 14, 2000

What impact did the media's miscalls have on election night? Possibly the biggest thumbs down from the public in recent memory. A poll conducted last week by the Gallup organization found that 65 percent of Americans say news coverage is often inaccurate. That's the highest number Gallup has recorded in the past 15 years. Only 32 percent of those asked thought the media was able to get the facts straight, a sharp drop from the 50 percent who thought so in 1998. (Three percent in this year's poll had no opinion.) Though the 1,012 adults were not asked specifically about the Florida brouhaha, they were questioned about whether they perceive bias in the news. More than two-thirds of Republicans thought the media favored one party or the other, while less than half of Democrats did. A recount is expected shortly.

The Onion, a satirical paper, is leaving its Wisconsin roots to open an office in the Big Apple - much to the chagrin of some in America's dairyland, who liked the distinction of being the paper's only home base. Known for its off-beat, edgy humor - including stories like "Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia" - the Madison-based publication plans to publish its first New York editions this summer. It is already available in bookstores around the country, with primary distribution in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Denver, and on the Web (www.theonion.com).

If shock-jock Howard Stern keeps his word, tomorrow may be his last broadcast. The king of all media, as he calls himself, has said that the show could be his swan song if contract negotiations aren't worked out before the end of the year. Stern will leave on vacation after Friday, so it may be weeks before it's known if his nationally syndicated talk show will return. Currently, it is New York City's top morning show, but its ratings are slipping elsewhere.